Flying-cruiser



.N. G. COX.

FLYING CRUISER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I9, I918.

WITNESSES Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR N. G C o x.

I A 7TORIVEY8- N. G. COX.

FLYING CRUISER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19. 191B.

Patented Aug. 10,1920.

4' sums-sum 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? 7 4 7 .,N".G.Cox. Wow/h w ATTORNEYS N. G. COX. FLYING CRUISER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I9. 1918.

1,349,323, PatentedAug. 10,1920.

4 SHEEIS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES w L M ATTORNEYS N. G. COX.

FLJYING CRUISER.

APPLICATION men uov.19.1s1s. 1,349,323. Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

4 sums-sun 4.

INVENTOR N, 6. Cox.

W/TNESSES Zr-HM o, O M

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT.- OFFICE.

' urine-011mm Specification of Letters 2mm.

- Patented-Aug. 10, 1920.-

Application meamvembu 19', ms. Serial No. 203,219;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I NATHQAQN G. Cox, a

citizen of the United tates, and a resident .tlOl'l. through the hull and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of Livengood, Territory of Alaska, have in vented a new and Improved fillyling-Crmser, of which the following is a clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to flyin machines, and more particularly such mac es as are suitable for use at times as vessels capable of floating in water.

More particularly,stated m invention contemplates a vessel suitable or flying in air and for. use upon the surfaceof water,

the vessel being adapted for service in warfare and provided with means for enabling itto be controlled .re arly in its various capacities and when so ject to different uses.-

Among the different objects and purposes of m invention are the following I. do provide the device with extensible wings so arranged that the inner surface may be increased or diminished or the wings' may be virtually folded and thus rendered inactive for the time being.

II. To provide the device with propellers. so arranged that the axes thereof may be I .shifted to different angles relatively to the hull of the vessel, at the. will of the operator. p

III. To provide improved meanswhereby the dpropellers and the rudders may be actuate and controlled by operators sitting or otherwise positioned at a distance therefrom.

IV. To provide special facilities for enabling the vessel to be used in water.

V. To rovide facilities for rendering the vessel se f-supporting when resting upon the round or placed in a dock for' repairs.

VI. To enable various movable parts including wing members to be shifted in osition by means of cables, at the will 0 the operator. I

VII. To improve theefliciencyof various parts of the device.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters refer to 1 similar parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my flying cruiser complete and ready for flying in the a1r' Fig. 2 is a planview of the same;

Fig. 3 is a substantially central vertical section through the hull of the Vessel showingryarious mechanism located therein;

1g. 4 1s a substantially horizontal secof the arrows;

' Fig. 5 is afront elevation of the device showing it in the condition represented in Figs. land 2;

ig. this a front elevation of the device showmgz'it as'it appears floating in water; a

Fig. is -a front elevation showing my Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section showing howthe.in1 1'er members are connected together and are movable relatively to each other. Fi :9 is a sectionshowin mem ers in moving relative y to each other are actuated without undue friction; and

how the inner device as self-supported'orresting upon the Fig. '10 is a fragmentary section showing how certain shafts are turned for the purpose of operating cables used for shifting the inner members.

The hull of the vessel appears at-11 and carries a deck frame 12. Disposed upon opposite sides of the hull are a pair of wing members 13, which, on account of theirclose proximity to the .hull- I designate' as the mner win members.

These wing members 14, because of their freedom tomove outwardly from th hull,

I designate as the outer wing members.

The wing members 14 are, by means of shafts 15, pivotally connected to the deck frame 12, as may be understood from Fig. 2. For this purposeI provide hinge bearings 16. "Connected with the wing members 13 t 14 are a. pair; of-w1ng mem rs carried by, and movable- 'relatively to, the inner wing members 13.

loo

20'. The observation booths 18, 19 are provided with hatches 21 of the usual or any desired construction, and are also provided with observation windows 22.

The hull carries a number of triangular supports 24, and journaled in the. top of these supports is a revoluble shaft 25. Engaging this shaft and partially wound thereupon are cables 26 which extend outwardly and are connected to the outer ends of the wing members 14. Other cables 27 are connected with the outer ends of the wing members 14, as may be understood from Fig. 7. The hull of the vessel is provided with holes 28 through which the cables 27 are passed,

as may be understood from Fig. 1. These holes 28 are rendered water-tight, by sealing or otherwise, when the vessel is used in the water. The cables 27 are secured to and partially wound upon a revoluble shaft 29 as indicated at the bottom of F ig. 3. This shaft extends through bearings 30 with which the hull is provided. 1

Located within the hull 11 is a floor 31 for supporting various parts. Below this floor the shaft 29 is provided with a bevel gear 32 secured rigidly upon it and revoluble with it. Meshing with this bevel gear is another bevel gearing 33, which, with the bevel gear 32 is located within a casing 30. Secured to the bevel gear 33 and extending vertically upward therefrom is a revoluble shaft 34 carrying a worm gear 35. 'This worm gear engages a worm 36 which is driven by a motor 37 resting upon the floor 31. This motor is provided with control devices 38 whereby it is regulated, stopped and started, at the will of the operator. The upper end of the revoluble'shaft 34 extends into a casing 39, shown at the top of Fig. 3. Mounted upon theupper end of the shaft 34is a bevel gear 40 located within this casing and meshing with another'bevel gear 41, the latter being rigidly mounted upon the revoluble shaft 25. Through the medium of the bevel gears 40 and 41 a rotary motion is com- .municated from the vertical shaft 34 to the horizontal shaft 25. Thus, by means of the control devices 38, the. motor 37 may be used to furnish power for turning the shaft ,25. Two observation seats are shown at 42 and 43 and rest upon platforms 44, '45, the

latter bein located some distance above the floor 31. I he observation seat 42 is toward the rear of the vessel and the observation seat 43 is toward the bow or front portion thereof. The elevated platforms 44, 45 are reached by ladders 46, 47 resting upon the floor 31. j

Located within the hull 11 are two engines v 48, 49 which furnish power for operating various devices, as hereinafter described.

Connected with the engine 49 and driven.

thereby is a sprocket chain 50 by aid where: of power is communicated to a revoluble shaft 51. This shaft is provided with a clutch 52, and connected with this clutch,

for, the purpose of actuating it, is a rod 53.-

This ro is connected with a foot lever 54 in Fig. 3.

disposed adjacent the observation seat 42, and in position to be actuated by an operator occupying this seat, as shown at the left of idly upon a rocking cylinder 62, whichserves as a casing for the bevel gears 56 and 57. The rocking cylinder 62 is provided with a neck 62 integral with it. The rocking cylinder 62 is located within a stationary casing, 63, having the proximate form of a mutilated cylinder, as may be understood from Fig. 3. The neck 62 carries an arm 62 (see Fig. 4) so arranged that when this arm is rocked back or .forth, the tubular bearing 60 is shifted to different angles, and the general position of the propeller 61 is thus shifted accordingly. The casing 63 is provided with an arcuate portion 64, having generally the form of an arcuate slot, and through which the tubular bearing 60, together with the revoluble shaft 59, extends. The tubular bearing 60,

and parts accompanying the same, simply move, upon the axis of the shaft 56 as acenter line, to any angle permitted by the form of the arcuate portion 64, as indicated The engine 48 is connected with a sprocket chain 65 by aid of which power is transmitted to a revoluble shaft 66 located just below the platform 44. The shaft 66 is provided with a clutch 67 and with a bevel gear 66" as may be understood from Fig. 4; Disposed near the shaft 66 is a rocking cylinder 68 somewhat similar to the rocking cylinder 62 a'bove described. Extending radiall outward from the rocking cylinder 68 an a shaft 71, and mounted uponthis shaft is a,

bevel gear 71, which meshes with the bevel integral therewith is a tu- 'bular bearing 69. Located within'the rockgear 69. The shaft 71 also carries a bevel gear 79 which is located outside of the rocking cylinder 68 and meshes with a bevel gear 66 carried by the shaft 66. The shaft 69 and tubular bearing 69 may be shifted to different angles, as may be understood from the left of Fig. 3. The outer or rear end of the shaft 69" may thus be caused to drop, say 20, below the normal or horizon- -tal level, or may be raisedinto the vertical the endless cables 8l shift the wing memposition, as shown in Fi 3. This is all done by. movements of t e rocking cylin- (let-68. I

In order to. actuate this cylinder, I pro.- vide it with a neck 68" as shown more particularly in F i .4. This neck extends outwardly through the neck in the casin 68. Mounted ri i 1y upon the neck 68 13 an arm 72, an pivotally connected with this arm is a thrust rod 73 which extends forwardly and is connected with a'hand lever 74, the latter being in easy reach of the operator-sitting upon the seat 42. The opera,- tor ,by actuating this hand lever can thus shift bodily the position of the propeller 70. As above explained, the axial line of the propeller may be shifted from the ver; tical position to a position 20 below the horizontal position, as may be understood from the left of Fig. 3.

Disposed adjacent the seat 42 is another hand lever 75, and connected .with it at its bottom is a thrust rod 76. This thrust rod extends forwardly a considerable distance, as may be understood from Figs. 3 and 4, and at its front end is connected to the arm 62", for the purpose of actuating the same. As above explained, when this arm is actu ated, the propeller shaft 59 is shifted to different angles, the result being that the propeller 61 is moved bodily into different angular positions. That may be' understood from Fig.3. a v

-A motor 77 located within the observation booth 18 is provided with a revoluble shaft 78, and mounted upon the ends of this shaft are two worms 79 which engage two worm gears 80, the. latter bein mounted rigidly upon the two shafts 15. hese shafts, while serving as pivotal members :forsupporting the wing members 13, are free to turn. Engaging these shafts, and partially wound thereon, are cables 81 which are endless in form, and each of these cables extends around a pulley 83 of the form shown in -'Figs. 8 and 9. Each'wing member 1 4 is by eyes 84 connected with the various cables 81;. The parts areso arranged that. when the shafts 15 are turned in one direction,

bers 14 outward relatively to the wing members 13, and when the shafts 15 are turned in the opposite direction, the wing members 14 are shifted back relatively to the wing members 13. The travel of the wing members 14 relatively to the wing members 13 is suggestive of a telescopic movement.

In order to avoid undue friction in shifting the wing members 14 relatively to the wing members 13, I provide the device shown in Fi 9. A bracket 85 secured rigidly upon t e wing member 14 carries a roller 86, and the wing member 13 carries a guideway 87 having generally the form of an angle-arm. The roller 86 extends in between the wing member 13 and the adjacent portion of the angle-arm 87, in such manner that the wing slided-relatively to the wing member 13.

Locatedwithin the obmrvation' booth 18 are a" pairof balanced hand levers 88, 89 within reach of the operator sitting-upon'the seat 42. Connected with the balanced hand lever 89 is a rod 90 which leads to a bell crank lever 92, and connected withthe latter is a thrust rod 93 which extends to the engine 49 and is used for enabling the operator to control the engine by merely shiftin the balanced hand lever 89.

glonnected to the balanced hand lever 88 member 14 may be readily,

is a rod 91 which is also connected to the engine 48, and is used for enabling the operator to control the same.

Located within the observation booth 19 are a pair of hand levers '94, 95. A air of tiller cables 96, 97 are connected with the hand lever 94 and extend 'rearwardly therefrom to a rudder 98. That ma be .understood from Fig. 1. This is t e so ca'lled to surface 103, for enabling the n turret-to be turned.' For the purpose 0 rotating the gun turret, the supporting surface 103 is:

provided with gear teeth 104, and these are engaged by a ear 105. Connected with this 106 and mounted'upon this gear is a sha shaft is a crank 107. The operator by actuating this crank can turn the gun turret so as to bring the gun 20 into any desired position relatively to the horizon.

As above described, the operator, by controlling the motor 77, can cause the wing members 14 to he slid out away from the hull 17 until the wing members assume the positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. By reversin the direction of rotation of the motor 7 the operator can cause the wing members to be withdrawn or brought back 102 which rest upon an annular supporting into their positions nearest the hull'11. The

rotation of the shaft 25 causes the cables 26 and 88 to be drawn in or let out as the case may be, and the rotation of the shaft 29 similarly ,causes the cables 27 and 89 to be .drawn in or let out, as desired. Thus, by

causing the rotation of the shafts 25 and 29, the various cables extending to the 'outer edges of the wing members 13 and 14 may 'be tightened orloosened at will, or any slack v little, and the cables 26 being loosened slightly, the wing members 13 are caused to I bend or dip downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that the floats 17-are brought into the water. Y

-If the vessel is to be rested on the ground, as shown in Fig. 7, the wing members 13 are dropped still lower, so-that their outer or lower edges rest upon the earth as shown. For this purpose, the cables employed are actuated accordingly.

I 'do not limit myself to the-particular construction herein shown and .described, and variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention. p

Having thusdescribed my invention, what -Iclaiin as new and desire tosecure by Let- 80 ters Patent is: i

1.. A- device .of the character described,

comprising a hull, wings mounted there-.

upon, casings carried b said hull and, each having the proximate orm of a cylinder, a rocking cylinder mounted withineach casing and adaptedto turn to a limitedextent relatively therein, a tubular bearing carried by said cylinder and extending radially therefrom, a revoluble shaft extending -4U'through said tubular bearing, a propeller mountedupon the outer end of said revoluble shaft and driven thereby, gearing located within said rocking cylinder and connected with said shaft-forthe purpose of turning the same,- and mechanism controllable at will by the operator for actuating said" 2. In}. device of the character descn .means for actuating said gearing, a revolurock said rocking cylinder, gearing located within said rocking cylinder, a revoluble "cylinder, and a propeller m'ounted upon the the combination of a hull, a casing mounted thereupon and rigid relatively thereto, said casing havin the proximate form of a cylinder, a roc g cylinder mounted .within" said casing, means for rocking said cylinder relatlvely to said casing, gearing mounted within said rocking cylinder,

ble shaft connected with said gearing and .extending radially outward therefrom, a tubular bearing supporting said shaft, said tubular bearing being rigid relatively to said rocking member, and a propeller mounted upon said shaft and adapted to be shifted to different angles assaid rocking cylinder is actuated relatively to said casing.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a hull, a casing mounted thereupon and having the proximate form of a mutilated cylinder, a rocking cylinder mounted within said casing, a tubular bearing carried by said casin and extending radially therefrom, a revo uble shaft extending through said bearing and supported thereby, gearing located within said rocking cylinder and connected with said revoluble shaft for actuating the same, and a propeller mounted upon the outer end of said revoluble shaft. 1

i 4. In a device of the.character described, the combination of a hull, a casing mounted thereupon and provided with an opening I in the form of an ar'cuate slot, a rocking cylinder located within said casing and provided with a neck extending therefrom, an arm secured upon said 'neck, mechanism controllable at the. will of the operator for shifting the position of said arm in order to shaft connected with 'saidgearing and.ex-' tending. radially outward from said rocking outer end of said shaft and revoluble there with. Y

NATHAN G. Cox.v 

